Archive for May, 2016

Which of these doesn’t belong: Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Tennessee, Maine, Arizona, Louisiana, Utah, and Georgia. On Wednesday, these 11 states filed a lawsuit against the Obama administration over its directive to public schools to allow transgender students to use the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity. This follows the lawsuit filed by North Carolina earlier this month in defense of HB2, a bill that effectively legalizes discrimination against the LGBTQ community, especially the T.

The wave of discriminatory legislation is couched in the premise that girls in bathrooms need to be protected from “men masquerading as women”. For one, this reveals an ignorance of the fact that trans people exist; they are not pretending. And two, this argument bears a striking resemblance to the discredited assertion that gay men are more likely to molest children than straight men. Also not true. Moreover, it’s been well-documented that a large majority of rapes are committed by people whom the victim knows- not a stranger.

Another argument made by the plaintiffs is that the Obama administration is conducting a grand “social experiment”. If this were true, then the same could be said about the integration of schools in the 1960s. A lot of people back then, too, screamed that the sky was falling when all that was falling was their right to dominate, denigrate, and discriminate against minorities.

I am sorely disappointed in Wisconsin, particularly Attorney General Brad Schimel for conspiring with Scott Walker to join the other 10 persecutors masquerading as victims.

A third argument by the gang of 11 is that their religious liberties are being trampled upon. Well, if you follow Jesus, read this and tell me where you think he would stand:

Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

It may be the case that some people who resist making accommodations for trans students are motivated less out of hatred than a lack of understanding. In such an event, one can start reading here or add this book to your wishlist, which outlines nature’s propensity for creating more than two genders. Then, dear Wisconsinites, hopefully you’ll elect a new attorney general in 2018.